The Texas Rangers are Primed For a Playoff Run

The Texas Rangers are Primed For a Playoff Run

 

 

The Texas Rangers very well could be the best run organization in the game. They spend money, they take chances, and do whatever it takes to win. This offseason they lost Ian Kinsler, Nelson Cruz, Lance Berkman, David Murphy, and Joe Nathan, all names that are not so easy to replace. So what does Jon Daniels do? He goes out and signs Shin Shoo Choo and adds Prince Fielder in a trade for Kinsler. Add in a full season of Jurickson Profar, their top prospect, and this team will not lose a step.

Losing Derek Holland for the beginning of the season will hurt the pitching depth some but once he comes back and they are at full strength look out. Yu Darvish and Martin Perez are a top righty-lefty duo and will rack up a lot of wins. Add on top of that one of the better bullpens in the game and pitching will not be a problem for this club. 

Last season Shin Shoo Choo proved me wrong by being a very capable leadoff hitter and moving to another hitter friendly park will only help add to those numbers from last season. Prince Fielder could very well lead the league in home runs at the end of the season given his power in that park and also his surprising durability. Adrian Beltre will continue to be the engine which makes this team run and he could win an MVP at the end of the year. If there’s one area the Rangers are lacking it’s at catcher. Geovany Soto and J.P. Arencibia are not a long term answer, but with many good prospects in the minors they could swing a trade to upgrade the position.

The Rangers will be in a dogfight with Oakland for most of the year but will still see playoff action come October. They will be built on pitching but there’s more than enough offense to carry them. Come playoff time this will not be a team I would want to face.